A distributed heating and cooling network is described. In one aspect a distributed heating and cooling network used in a district heating architecture is described.

A device that includes a pressure sensor that adds dynamic pressure sensing capability to a furnace. In some examples the device may include a relay and other circuitry to replace the single-setpoint pressure switch used to sense the operation of an inducer fan. The pressure sensor may measure the pressure from the inducer fan and send a signal to the other circuitry, such as a microcontroller. The other circuitry may determine when the pressure from the inducer fan reaches a predetermined threshold and allow the main gas valve of the furnace to open. The other circuitry may be configured to set the pressure sensor to a variety of predetermined pressure thresholds, and thereby replace multiple pressure switches. In some examples, the other circuitry may record pressure values received from the pressure sensor over time and provide performance data, as well as other signals or indicators.

Embodiments include systems and methods for heating water and cooling air simultaneously, as well as other simultaneous heating and cooling operations. An example variable refrigerant flow conditioning system includes an outdoor unit having a compressor, a condenser coil, and a fan, a water heater coupled to the outdoor unit, a first air conditioning unit coupled to the outdoor unit, and a controller. The controller may be configured to determine that a cooling operation mode is active during a first time interval, cause vapor refrigerant to be directed from the outdoor unit to the water heater and liquid refrigerant to be directed from the outdoor unit to the first air conditioning unit, determine that a heating operation mode is active during a second time interval, and cause the vapor refrigerant to be directed from the outdoor unit to both the water heater and the first air conditioning unit.

A system and approach for developing a periodic water usage profile and demand for controlling a water heater. A mode may be selected for demand for a certain amount of water of a particular temperature range to be available for use from the water heater. Data on hot water usage may be collected and the usage profile and demand may be calculated from the data. The water heater may be programmed to operate in a certain fashion based on the usage profile and demand. A control knob may be on the water heater control to select a particular demand. Control of the water heater may be operated from a remote device connected in a wireless or wired fashion. An optimization program may be implemented in the control of the water heater for achieving one or more beneficial goals related to water heater performance and hot water production.

A personalized heating system is disclosed. The system includes: a heat source; one or more actuators configured to set a direction of heat emitted by the heat source; one or more sensors that capture sensor data about an environment; a processor; and programming instructions that are configured to, when executed, cause the processor to perform various functions. The functions include processing the sensor data and identifying a target person in the environment, along with a first target area for the target person. The system will cause the one or more actuators to set the direction of heat emitted by the heat source toward the first target area. The system will then cause the heat source to generate heat and directing heat as a heat beam toward the first target area.

A heating system of a building includes: a solar heater configured to receive sunlight and to at least one of absorb heat into a refrigerant and augment heat absorbed into the refrigerant; a compressor configured to compress the refrigerant that vaporized via absorption of heat; a first heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the refrigerant to water; an expansion valve configured to reduce at least one of a temperature and a pressure of the refrigerant after the transfer of heat from the refrigerant to water; a second heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from water output from the first heat exchanger to air passing the second heat exchanger before flowing into the building; a pump configured to pump the water from the solar heater to the second heat exchanger; and a blower configured to blow air past the second heat exchanger and into the building.

An energy-saving system using electric heat pump to recover flue gas waste heat for district heating uses flue gas waste heat recovery tower to absorb the sensible and latent heat in the high-temperature flue gas by direct contact heat and mass transfer. The circulating water is sprayed from the top and the flue gas flows upwards in the tower. The electric heat pump is indirectly connected with circulating water through the anti-corrosion and high-efficiency water-water plate heat exchanger. The return water of the heat-supply network enters the electric heat pump through the anti-corrosion and high-efficiency water-water plate heat exchanger and exchanges heat indirectly with the high-temperature circulating water. The electric heat pump uses the electric energy of the power plant as the driving power.

An energy-saving system using electric heat pump to recover flue gas waste heat for district heating uses flue gas waste heat recovery tower to absorb the sensible and latent heat in the high-temperature flue gas by direct contact heat and mass transfer. The circulating water is sprayed from the top and the flue gas flows upwards in the tower. The electric heat pump is indirectly connected with circulating water through the anti-corrosion and high-efficiency water-water plate heat exchanger. The return water of the heat-supply network enters the electric heat pump through the anti-corrosion and high-efficiency water-water plate heat exchanger and exchanges heat indirectly with the high-temperature circulating water. The electric heat pump uses the electric energy of the power plant as the driving power.

A hydraulic module control system of a floor heating multi-split air conditioner and a control method of the hydraulic module control system. The system includes: a plurality of temperature controllers, in signal connection with the hydraulic module, and configured to set a set temperature in each room and an operation mode of the hydraulic module; and a control module, in signal connection with the hydraulic module, and configured to: set preset water outlet temperature values under the different operation modes of the hydraulic module; and control the hydraulic module to operate according to received operation modes set by the temperature controllers and preset water outlet temperature values corresponding to the set temperatures, and control the operation mode of the hydraulic module according to a comparison result of an outdoor ambient temperature and a first temperature preset value when both a cooling operation mode and a heating operation mode are received.

A heating and cooling system for use with hot, cold and source fluid circuits. A conduit module couples a heating/cooling module with the fluid circuits. The conduit module includes four three-way valves to communicated fluid from and to the fluid circuits to first and second heat exchangers in the heating/cooling module. The first heat exchanger is used to heat a fluid flow and the second one chills a second fluid flow. The conduit module simultaneously supplies a hot fluid flow to a hot fluid circuit and a cold fluid to a cold fluid circuit. The source fluid is routed by the conduit module. A method of circulating fluid is also disclosed.